By Brandon Simmons
What Does the Dolphins game say about them Going Forward?
The Miami Dolphins clinched a playoff berth by beating the Dallas Cowboys on a game winning field goal. It was a statement win that seemed to have answered a lot of questions fans had about Miami. One of those questions was whether they could beat a team that had an over .500 record. That was answered on Sunday against the Cowboys who were 10-4 entering into this game.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagavoiloa threw 24/37/ for 293 yards and a touchdown. Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill was quiet in the first half finished the game with 9 catches for 99 yards. Dolphins linebacker Ale Van Ginkel led the defense with 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
There is a lot to say about the Miami Dolphins as they head into the playoffs and most of it was answering the skepticism they faced all year. Aside from beating a team with a winning record, what is this team like without wide Tyreek Hill. They displayed that when Hill had a quiet first half and finished with 99 yards. Instead they had their defense on display in this game by making big plays at crucial moments. They set the tone early making the 4th down stop at the goal line and was able to sack Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott 4 times. In addition to showcasing their defense, they showed off their offensive weaponry as well. Nine different players recorded a catch, which was beneficial considering players were getting nicked up and had to step out of the lineup. There should be credit given to the Cowboys defense for not letting dolphin wide receivers Hill and Jaylen Waddle combine for big plays.
Essentially, with all this information gathered, it looks very promising for the Miami Dolphins to have a long playoff run. In this game, they showed the world they are capable of being a balanced football team that can beat anybody. The keyword is “capable” because they have displayed some faults in this game and especially the past few contests. One thing that is concerning is how quick they can turn on their offensive attack. The Cowboys held the Dolphins to 2 field goals early and only 3 field goals in the 2nd half. If they get things going early offensively then they can force teams to play catch up, which is tough to do when facing a speedy team such as Miami.
Reaction to the Ravens/49ers
The Baltimore Ravens paid a Christmas visit to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night and left them a L under the tree. The Ravens beat the 49ers 33-19 in a game that could be a Super Bowl preview. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson was his usual self throwing for 252 yards and a touchdown, in addition to leading the team in rushing with 45 yards. The Ravens was the benefit of 2 sacks and 5 interceptions, with 2 of the picks coming from Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton in the first half. San Francisco let the game get away from them in the 3rd quarter but not without putting up a fight in the 1st half. 49ers QB Brock Purdy was hitting his usual targets until he got derailed by 3 picks in the the first half.
If you’ve been following the narrative of Brock Purdy being labeled a game manager, this probably wasn’t the game for him to dodge those allegations. Out of San Fran’s usual explosive offensive cast, Purdy was the only one who soured out. Niners tight end Geoge Kittle finished with 126 yards while Niners wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk recorded 113. San Fran running back Christian McCaffrey ran for 103 yards and the touchdown in the first half that cut the lead to 4 points. This game was a wake up call for the 49ers. A lot of people have heralded them as being in the Super Bowl, and rightfully so. They have beaten some pretty good teams but this loss reminds them that they are not the only great team heading into the playoffs.
The Baltimore Ravens showed the world they belong at the top of their conference and possibly one of last 2 teams remaining in the league. The Ravens had a rough start, which included an inadvertant safety thanks to the referee, but overcame it and never really looked back. San Francisco threw everything at this team and Baltimore responded tremendously. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson stepped into the MVP conversation, carrying this team on his back in the 3rd quarter to put this game out of reach. With Jackson being healthy, the Ravens can make some problems for defenses, but they must get better on the ground. Jackson was the leading rusher Monday night, as he has been all season since the team has been dealing with injuries in the running back room. Baltimore jist needs its running backs to take over and this team could really take their playoff to the finish line.
Browns are Giving a Dogfight for Their Playoffs
The Cleveland Browns are one of many teams having to rely on a backup quarterback to finish their season. Cleveland has been starting Joe Flacco, a former Super Bowl champ for the Baltimore Ravens, and they have been soaring ever since. While the Browns are certainly enjoying a late season jolt, they have not been unfamiliar with any success. Before Flacco entered the starting lineup, the Browns were 7-4 with a top ranked defense but also juggling different quarterbacks. Part of the reason for the latter is because Browns QB Deshaun Watson has been dealing with numerous injuries throughout the year, before ultimately ending his season to have shoulder surgery. During this time, they also dealt with losing running Nick Chubb to injury for the year.
Despite all the injuries to key players, the Cleveland Browns are very much alive in the playoff race. It starts with their league-leading defense, which is ranked number one against the pass and tackles for loss. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is showcased in this unit as their game wrecker and has lived up to that reputation with his 26 QB hits. While the defense has been superb all year, it’s hard to diminish Flacco’s impact on this team. He has been 3-1 since getting the starting job and even has a 3 game winning streak. Flacco provides stability at a position that has not seen much of it during the year and it comes just at the right time. In his 4 starts, he’s averaged 326.8 yards per game and thrown for 10 touchdowns. His play has even seemed to rejuvenate wide receiver Amari Cooper, who recorded a franchise single game record, 265 yards. It’s not unusual for a team to go deep in the playoffs with a backup QB, especially when the Philadelphia Eagles did it in 2017 when they won the Super Bowl led by QB Nick Foles, who replaced an injured Carson Wentz. However, the Browns’ road is a lot tougher as they likely won’t have a home playoff game as the Baltimore Ravens currently lead the AFC North. Wherever they open their postseason at, please believe that their opponent will be in for a dog fight.
Shoutouts/Shutouts
Shout out the Detroit Lions for completing a 30 year old feat. The Lions clinched the NFC North after beating the Minnesota Vikings this past Saturday. It’s the team’s first division title since 1991. Congrats to the Lions for bringing a timeless gift to their fans.
Shut out to the Kansas City Chiefs who probably had as unforgettable of a Christmas as you possibly could. The Chiefs lost to the Las Vegas Raiders at home on national television 20-14. There was so much going wrong for this team in this game on all facets. The camera showed Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes barking at his offensive line, while his teammate, tight end Travis Kelce was throwing his helmet down in frustration. On the field, the Chiefs were victims to back-to-back defensive scores, including a pick 6 by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones, who appeared to take away the game ball from a child fan, but he cleared the story up later. At the end of the day, the Chiefs season has not been going the way they or their fans wanted and the Christmas game was just a culmination of that.
Week 17 is here and for some teams it’s already their postseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Seattle Seahawks with both teams fighting for their playoff spots. Steelers are outside of the 7th spot while the Seahawks are currently there. The game of the week will be on Saturday when the Dallas Cowboys host the Detroit Lions. Detroit already won their division and sit at the number 2 seed tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles for the number one seed. The Cowboys are also still alive for the NFC East with the Eagles. A win for Dallas would help them land the division title and a home playoff game but a win by the Lions gives them a slim shot at homefield advantage. But until then…I’ll holla.